Dateline Rice for Jan. 5, 2016

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Today’s video: New flat camera looks into the future
A video of the FlatCam developed by Rice University engineers is featured as “Today’s video.” Richard Baraniuk, the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Ashok Veeraraghavan, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, appear in the video, which was produced by Public Affairs’ Brandon Martin.
Science 360 (This is featured on the home page.)
http://1.usa.gov/1kRMsmo

Saudi showdown with Iran puts strain on decades-old US ties
Saudi Arabia’s tension with Iran is creating difficulties for the United States’ initiatives in the Mideast. Ambassador Edward Djerejian, director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Bloomberg (This article also appeared in Business Mirror.)
http://bloom.bg/1RdSNJp

Northeast states begin process to develop carbon program for transportation sector
Five northeastern states are creating a regional program to control carbon emissions in the transportation sector. Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice’s Energy and Environment Initiative, comments.
Bloomberg BNA
http://bit.ly/1R9amKp

Rocky roads ahead for governors with failed presidential bids
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on former Gov. Rick Perry’s failed presidential bid.
Governing
http://bit.ly/1Z1VMJg

Executions fuel Saudi-Iran regional rivalry
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about Saudi Arabia’s decision to execute Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others convicted of terrorism.
Financial Times
http://on.ft.com/1JrezGC
1 killed, another injured amid clashes in Saudi’s Qatif: Local source
Pasion Noticias
http://bit.ly/1S1GWxN
La crise actuelle entre l’Arabie Saoudite et l’Iran est ‘la plus dangereuse depuis des décennies’
LeVif.be (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1RoFxzW

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Oil markets shrug off Mideast turmoil, look to China’s woes
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on the unlikelihood of Saudi Arabia and Iran’s dispute dramatically affecting the oil market.
Houston Chronicle (This is featured on the home page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1IO6USS
China worries outweigh Mideast fears in oil market
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1Ut9zBZ

Baker St. Pub in Rice Village closes
Rice Village’s Baker St. Pub & Grill, which is noted to have served sports fans and Rice students, has closed. .
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Z4SYuV
Rice Village pub and grill closes
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1O2LhNi

Commentary: By shopping around, you can take health care costs down a peg
Health care spending is predicted to rise 4 percent this year. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is quoted.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1Z4W2qL

Feng shui master offers course at University Branch Library, Jan. 26
Chao-Chiung Lee, a registered architect and feng shui master who has lectured at Rice, will present a special program, “The Way of Harmony: Feng Shui and Western Design,” at the University of Houston.
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in the Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1mCF959

BROADCAST

CNN
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, appeared on CNN Newsroom with Carol Costello to discuss President Barack Obama’s planned executive order on gun control.
http://bit.ly/1IObz7o

What do these notable Texans predict will happen in the New Year?
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, former distinguished lecturer at Rice, is quoted.
Texas Standard
http://bit.ly/1VEYZsR

CNBC
Rice is mentioned in a report on how Houston is impacted by the price of oil.
http://bit.ly/1O8lEsz

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Increasing liquefied natural gas exports ‘marginally positive’ for US economy
Increasing the United States’ export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) above 12 billion cubic feet per day would allow the U.S. to continue to provide a competitive advantage for domestic natural-gas-intensive industries relative to their counterparts overseas, according to a new report presented to the U.S. Department of Energy from the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Oxford Economics. Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies and the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and lecturer of economics, is quoted.
Science Daily
http://bit.ly/1VEGpAS
CLNG welcomes DOE study
LNG Industry
http://bit.ly/1Z52caB
Will exporting natural gas help or hurt US consumers?
Before It’s News
http://bit.ly/1kI7C8l

Want to learn coding in 2016? Here are 5 ways to do it
Rice University’s An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part I) is included in a list of free online courses for learning coding.
Built in Chicago
http://bit.ly/1Jra2UJ

Birth of the bacterial circuit
Rice scientists made a living circuit from multiple types of bacteria that prompt cooperation to change protein expression. Matthew Bennett, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted.
ASME.org
http://bit.ly/1myweCy

Laser-induced graphene looks to displace batteries with supercapacitators
Rice researchers who pioneered the development of laser-induced graphene have configured their discovery into flexible, solid-state microsupercapacitors that rival the best available for energy storage and delivery. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
DirectorsTalk.com
http://bit.ly/1Ox1MTk
Rice University creates micro supercapacitors
Capacitor Industry
http://bit.ly/1ZLOhD9

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Profs. label ranchers as terrorists for occupying Oregon federal building
Craig Considine, lecturer of sociology, is mentioned.
Prison Plant
http://bit.ly/1myD2Ql

Mayor Luke Bronin and new council take office
Alumna Kiley Gosselin ’02 will join the incoming Hartford, Conn., administration as deputy of Development Services.
Inquiring News
http://bit.ly/1VEHloQ

SPORTS

Local sports roundup: Harrow’s Griffin Robinson scores 4 goals
Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 is mentioned.
Windsor Star
http://bit.ly/1S1Ervm

NEWS RELEASE

Rice experts available to discuss Trump’s first TV ad
Rice University political scientist Mark Jones, Mexico studies fellow Tony Payan and presidential historian Douglas Brinkley are available to discuss Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s first large television commercial buy.
http://bit.ly/1Sx302K